Collaborative Law in Houston is a fantastic way to handle your divorce. It is non-adversarial and is premised on the notion that two parties can work together as a team to negotiate and formulate a way to reach a settlement in a peaceful environment. It is an underutilized option in Texas that can offer a way for an amicable settlement while staying out of the courtroom. We at the Kutty Guajardo Khoury Law Firm are trained in the collaborative process and can walk you through the steps with an initial consultation.
Collaborative Law is governed by Chapter 15 in the Texas Family Code. One party files for divorce, and the two parties then with the assistance of attorneys, execute a Collaborative Law Participation Agreement which is subsequently filed with the court. This buys time for the parties to then participate in a series of meetings over several months with counsel, a financial neutral who is a joint expert that manages the exchange of financials between parties, and possibly a mental health expert to manage some of the emotional needs of the parties during the process in order to work collaboratively to reach an agreement.
The process only works if both sides are transparent with the exchange of financial documents, and can co-parent together in making decisions involving children. It is an excellent tool to use as it is confidential and keeps the parties out of the courtroom. If an agreement is reached, it is filed with the court and the parties can obtain a judgment for their divorce. Call us at 281-598-6520 to find out more about this process.
